Clinton resident Jean Dieden was honored by the American Kennel Club as a winner of the 2013 AKC Lifetime Achievement Awards. She and two other recipients received engraved Revere bowls last month at the AKC Delegates luncheon held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando, Fla.
A sterling silver Tiffany and Co. bowl, engraved with the names of all recipients past and present, is on permanent display at AKC headquarters in New York City.
The AKC Lifetime Achievement Awards were created to honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of purebred dogs on a national level. The recipients were selected from votes cast by AKC member clubs for nominees in the categories of Conformation, Companion Events and Performance.
Dieden, who owns and operates Animal Hospital by the Sea in Langley, earned the award for Performance. She has been involved in AKC Performance events with her Hathor Farm Wirehaired Dachshunds since 1992. They have earned 12 Field Championships (11 of them Dual) and over 50 “Absolute Winner” awards, including three national specialty trial wins. She has been competing at dog shows, obedience trials and tracking tests for 40 years.
Dieden has had three dogs ranked in the DCA annual “Top 20” awards and one with over 1,000 points is among the top 10 lifetime point earners.
Dieden has served on the DCA’s Trial Advisory Committee/Performance Events Committee for 10 years, the last seven serving as chairman. This committee has been responsible for several successful AKC rule and procedural change proposals also adopted by the other hound events.
Dieden started in AKC Earthdog at its inception. Her dogs have earned over 300 qualifying scores, including 160 Master tests. She has held over 80 tests at her home, Hathor Farm on Whidbey Island. A founding officer of the Puget Sound Earthdog Club and longtime president of the Cascade Dachshund Club she is credited for gaining CDC’s licensing status for Dachshund Field Trials and Earthdog Tests.
She has enjoyed being a field trial judge for 12 years and an Earthdog judge for 16 years, enjoying judging throughout the country, including 11 classes at DCA national events.
The American Kennel Club celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2009. Since 1884, the not-for-profit organization has maintained the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, and today its rules govern more than 20,000 canine competitions each year. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership.
